Dwight m



(No Model.)

D. M. DE SILVA.

COMBINED TOBACCO BOX AND CUTTER.

Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

WITNE ES I IJV'VEJVTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DWIGHT M. DE SILVA, OF CORNING, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MARVIN OLOOTT AND HUGH H. KENDALL, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED TOBACCO BOX AND CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,435, dated February 2, 1886.

Application filed June 26, 1885. Serial No. 169,873.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DWIGHT M. DE SILVA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corning, in the county of Steuben and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Tobacco Box and Cutter, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tobaccoboxes; and

[0 it has for its object to provide a device of this character which will be of great convenience and utility to those having occasion to make use of such contrivances.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a superior form of box, which will add cleanliness to the use of tobacco, and which may be carried conveniently in the pocket and exclude dust and dirt from its contents.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tobacco-box with a knife-blade or cutter attached to the cover or lid, so that when the latter is closed down it will be caused to cut a sufficient quantity of tobacco to suit the wishes of the user. \Vith these and other objects in view, the

said invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts that will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tobaccobox with the cover or lid closed down. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, the cover or lid being thrown back in full line and closed 5 down in dotted line. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the hinged cover or lid thrown back.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a rectangular box, one end of which is open, as at a, and at this end the bottom of the box is made thicker or re-enforced by a supplemental plate, as at 13, this portion B extending above the bottom of the box and having its inner edge sharpened, as at b, to act against the tobacco placed in the box. The sides of the box at the open end a are provided with ears 0, which are perforated for the passage of the pivot-pin or rivet O. The closed end of the box is slotted vertically, as at (Z (2', these two vertical slots forming a spring-tongue, D, the upper end of which is turned outwardly, as at e, to catch in a corresponding recess or depression, f, provided in the depending end 5 flange of the cover or lid E. The cover or lid has its depending side flanges extended at one end, as at g g, and perforated for the passage of the rivet or pivot-pin, the latter serving to pivot or hinge the cover at the extensions to the ears 0 of the box.

F designates a blade attached by rivets or other suitable fastening Ineansto the cover or lid between its depending side flanges, and extending downward in a curved line within 6 the extensions 9 g. The lower end of this blade extends some distance below the lower edge of the extensions 9 g, and is curved outward and sharpened to form a cuttingedge, h, which acts against the tobacco placed within the box to sever a sufficient quantity therefrom.

It will be observed that the side flanges of the cover or lid fit over the side flanges of the box, and for that reason the blade F has a length less than the width of the cover, so that when the latter is closed down the blade is allowed to work between the sides of the box.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Tobacco in the form of a plug is introduced into the box,resting on the bottom thereof, the sharpened edge of the plate or portion 13 engaging the under side of theplug when the box is carriedin the pocket. The hinged lid is then closed down, the blade F serving to close the open end of the box and prevent the tobacco from falling out, the tongue D having its upper end engaging the depression f, provided in the cover. For convenience in operation I propose to apply a small knob or thumb-piece, G, at an intermediate portion of the tongue, by which the latter may be pressed inward to release the cover or lid of the box. hen the user desires to cut off a piece of tobacco, the spring-tongue D is operated, and the hinged 5 cover or lid is thrown back to enable the operator to adjust the plug within the box and cause it to project beyond the open end thereof. When this has been effected,tl1e cover is swung down into position, the blade F acting upon 10o the upper edge of the tobacco plug and'cutting through the same, as will be readily understood. As the blade cuts through the plug the latter is held from being shifted or displaced from its position by the plate B,which catches at its sharp edge 1) against the under side of the plug. It will thus be seen that this plate B, in connection with the blade F, will serve to cut the plug as desired by the user.

It will be observed that at each time the cover or lid is swung down to act upon the tobacco a portion of the latter is severed, while the remaining portion of the same is retained within the box, the blade Fimmediately closing the open end of the latter as soon as the cutting has been effected.

It will be understood that by the peculiar construction of the blade and its relative connection with the cover this blade is caused to work in the arc of acircle, thus providing what might be termed a shear-cut, which will avoid all tendencyof the knife to bind whilein operation. As the end flange of the cover or lid strikes the enlargement or projection e of the tongueD in closing,the tongue is caused to yieldinwardandthen springout-ward to engage the depression or recess f of the cover.

In practice, it may be found necessary to have the ears 0 of the box and the extensions 9 g of the cover,where the hinge is, located, turned inward or bent around so as to avoid the sharp corners shown in the drawings. In this man ner the pocket will be protected against such rough corners and the box made more conven ient and serviceable in use. It may also be found desirable to have the blade and cover pressed in one piece, this construction being more durable, sincethe blade cannot then work loose. I have not thought it necessary to show these modifications in the drawings, since they will appear obvious to any one skilled in the art. The location of the parts is not changed in any respect when these modifications are employed.

My improvement providesavery handy and useful article,which will be indispensable to those who chew tobacco. By its use any quan tity of tobacco may be severed from the plug Within the box Without employing a knife or being'compelled to bite from the "plug the amount which the user desires, these methods being objectionable, as any one who has used tobacco will readily testify.

My invention is simple in its construction,

may be carried in the pocket like any other tobacco-box, may be manufactured at a very low cost, and will prove its merits not only as a serviceable article for the purpose mentioned, but will also attract attention from its novel and ingenious method of operation.

I do not wish to be limited to the construction of holding-plate B, herein shown and described, as various slight changes in the same may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The particular form of spring-catch D is not claimed herein, as it is not new.

Having described my invention, Iclaim- 1. A box having a stationary holding device located at the bottom for the tobacco plug placed thereon, in combination with thehinged or pivoted cover or lid carrying a bade or cutter, as set forth.

2. The box having a holding-plate located across the bottom thereof, in combination with the hinged or pivoted cover or lid carrying a blade or cutter, for the purpose set forth.

3. The box having one end left open and provided near its open end with a holding device on its bottom for the tobacco, in combination with the hinged cover or lid carrying a depending blade or cutter adjacent toits pivotal point, as set forth.

4. The box, in combination with thehingcd or pivoted cover provided with a depending blade or cutter, the lower sharpened edge of which is curved forward or outward, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownIhave hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DWIGHT M. DE SILVA.

Witnesses:

O. E. GREENFIELD, D. M. HAMLIN. 

